Vineyard Vines Suedโข in Washington State Over Allegedly Misleading Email Sales Tactics
SEATTLE, WA – Vineyard Vines is facing a new classโค actionโฃ lawsuit in Washington โstate court, alleging theโ retailer uses deceptive โemail subjectโ lines to lure customers into makingโข purchases under false pretenses of limited-time offers. The suit, filed in King County Superior Court, claims โthe companyโ violates the Washington consumer Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) and the state’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
Plaintiff angee Harrington alleges Vineyard Vinesโ routinely employs tactics designed to create a false sense of urgency.According to the complaint, the company sends emails with subject lines advertisingโ limited-time sales, only to follow up with announcements that theโ sale โขhas been “extended,” โa practice Harringtonโ argues was planned from the โoutset.
The lawsuit further contends that Vineyard Vinesโค misrepresents the terms ofโข promotionsโ within email subject lines. For example, a subject line promising “30% Off Everything + FREE Shipping” allegedly leads consumers to believe the discountโฃ and free โshipping apply โto all products, when in realityโ a minimum order of $150 or more is required.
“Vineyard Vines’ emailsโ mislead consumers about the terms of its promotions, creatingโ a sense of urgency that prompts โฃthem to make purchases they might not otherwise make,” the lawsuit โstates.
Harrington โargues that these practices violate CEMA, which specifically prohibits false or misleading information โin commercial email subject lines. A CEMA โviolation is considered a per se violationโ of the Washington CPA, potentially leadingโฃ to meaningful penalties.
The class action โฃseeks anโ injunction to halt the alleged deceptive email practices,โค statutory damages for each illegal โemail sent, and reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs. The suit is brought on behalfโฃ of Harrington and other โฃWashington residents who received theโ allegedly misleading emails.
The complaint also references Federal Trade commission regulations prohibitingโ sellers from advertisingโ “limited” offers that are not genuinelyโ limited in duration. Harringtonโ further claims the tactics are โขused toโฃ increase emailโฃ volume, potentially clogging inboxes and diverting attention from otherโ communications.
This lawsuit echoes a โฃsimilar recent case against Southwest Airlines, which also โfaced allegations โคofโ using deceptive subject lines โฃin emails sent to Washington consumers.
harrington is represented by Kaleigh N.Boydโ of Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC, Edwinโ J. Kilpela Jr. โand James Lamarca of Wade Kilpelaโข Sladeโข LLP, and Evan E. North of North Law PLLC.
The case is Harrington v. Vineyard โคVines LLC,Case No. 2:25-cv-01115, in the Superior Court for the State of Washington in and for King County.